UK+Sport

Sport, The UK is the birthplace of many sports including: Football (Soccer), Cricket and Rugby. However the home nations have failed to win many international competitions, although many sports were created in the UK. Barclay's football premiership, Guinness Rugby premiership and Scottish Football Premier league. A few of the widely regarded leaders of their chosen fields in the world. Although the home nations have all failed to reach EURO 2008. On the other hand, UK rugby is second to none. Although the UK Home Nations Southern Hemisphere tour is not going so well, with England, Wales and Ireland failing to win their opening matches against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa respectively.

__**Football**__
Back in 1966 England hosted their first world cup. They became only the second host nation win the tournament- after Italy. One of the main talking points about the 1966 world cup was that the trophy was stolen but later recovered in London by a dog called Pickles. England progressed as group 1 winners in a group containing France, Mexico and Uruguay- who also qualified. England only scored four goals in the group stages but failed to concede. The other 6 teams to reach the quarter- finals were USSR, Argentina, West Germany, Portugal, North Korea and Hungary. England managed to beat 10 man Argentina 1-0 with a Geoff Hurst goal. The other three teams progressing to the semi-finals were Portugal, West Germany and USSR. England once again needed their wits about them as they prepared to take on Portugal, the surprise package of the tournament. England triumphed 2-1 with two Bobby Charlton goals. Elsewhere West Germany beat USSR by 2 goals to 1. Portugal beat USSR 2-1 in the third place play off, to secure third place. In the final West Germany v England, West Germany took the lead after 12 minutes, only for England to draw level through Geoff Hurst four minutes later. England made it 2-1 in the 78th minute with a Martin Peters goal. With one minute to go West Germany were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and the ball was scrambled over the line. In extra time Geoff Hurst grabbed two goals to seal the victory.

=__**Wimbledon**__=

 The Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon have developed from the garden party atmosphere of the first meeting in 1877, witnessed by a few hundred spectators, to a highly professional tournament attracting an attendance of almost half a million people, and through the press, radio and television a following of millions throughout the world. Wimbledon is certainly acknowledged as the premier tennis tournament in the world, hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

